Decorticating machine



A. BURKARDT DECORTIUATING MACHINE I Ndv. 26; 1940 Filed Aug. 1

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Z 0N8 1211' Mlfig TORNEY.

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DECORTICATING MACHINE Ffiled Aug. 1, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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Nov. 26, 1940. A. BURKARDT DECORTICATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1, 1939Sheets-Sheet} O O O O O MN W NN l INVENTOR- azvzmmaz' BY Q I q, I

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 26, 1940 UNITED :STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My present invention relates to machines for treating vegetable stalkscontaining fibre, and more particularly to an improved machine fordecorticating vegetable stalks such as hemp, flax, ramie, and the like.

My present invention is designed to decorticate vegetable stalks in thedry or semi-dry state, as distinguished from the wet or wettingprocesses, and separate the fibres from the shives by mechanicalprocess, as distinguished from the heretofore used chemical process.

An important feature of my invention is an improved floating anvil overwhich the stalks are fed to the scutching rotors.

A furtherfeature of my invention is an improved anvil provided withmeans for delivering air undenpressure to the face thereof.

z ijfurther feature of my invention is an improved assembly of scutchingrotors which cooperate with each other to provide a continuous orsinuous path for the fibre and for operating to remove the shives fromthe fibre while such fibre is lying in the sinuous path.

A still further feature of my invention is an improved scutching rotorprovided with means for ejecting air therefrom in a direction gen- Ierally radially of the axis of rotation thereof.

A further feature of my invention is an improved scutching rotor havinga plurality of blades extending radially outward therefrom and withmeans for emitting air from a plurality of orifices arranged along theleading edge thereof.

A still further feature of my invention is an improved means forcollecting the shives removed from the fibrous material and removing thesame from the machine.

Another feature of my invention is the airblast cleaning of the adheringshives from the fibre, while the fibre itself is held taut between therotor blades.

Another feature of this invention is improved means for preventing thewinding of decorticated fibre on the rotors when such rotors revolve athigh speed, thereby increasing the output of the machine. 1

Other features of the invention will appear as the description of theinvention progresses.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 represents in sectional side elevation of an improveddecorticating machine embodying my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a portion of Fig. 1 on an enlargedscale and illustrating a means for delivering air under pressure to aresiliently faced anvil;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a fragment of a machine similar to thatillustrated in Figure 1 and showing a set of scutching rotors, one ofwhich is in direct operative association with an anvil the face of whichis provided with a plurality of rows of orifices for delivering airunder pressure to the material being worked upon and said set of rotorsbeing provided with radially extending sets of orifices through whichair is emitted under pressure;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the rotors shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation on an enlarged scale of a portionof a machine similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1 and showing a pair ofscutching rotors in operative relation with respect to each other and toan anvil and with each of the rotors provided with sets of orifices fordelivering air under pressure radially of the axis of rotation andsubstantially tangentially; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional end elevation taken on the line 6-6 and looking inthe direction of the arrows on such section line.

Referring to the drawings, I0 designates generally a framework in whichthe operating elements of my improved invention are mounted, suchframework for clearness of illustration and convenience of descriptionbeing shown as a framework 'of sheet material. The framework is shownpractically in the form of a casing.

At an upper end of the framework III is provided an opening H, theperipheral edges of which are provided with resilient flaps l2. Withinthe framework It] and adjacent the opening II are arranged in verticalalignment shafts i3 and M, the shaft I3 being vertically adjustable bymeans of the adjusting screw and spring l6. Mounted on the shaft I3 is acrushing roll I I while secured to the shaft I4 is a crushing roll l8.The crushing rolls l1 and it are normally in engagement with each otherand form a throat into which stalks of fibrous material l9 are fed bythe conveyor 20, over the feeding platform a. The crushing rolls l1 andI8 have their periphery, engaged by the resilient flaps l2.

Still'within the framework HI and interiorly of the crushing rolls l1and [8 are rollers 2| and 22 one or both of which may be rubbersurfaced, the rollers being relatively adjustable toward and from. eachother by means of the adjusting screw 23. The rollers 2| and 22 receivethe fibres l8 from the crushing rolls l1 and I8 and serve to preventindividual stalks of the layer of stalks from being drawn intoengagement with the anvil by the rapidly rotating deeorticating rotors.In other words, the rollers 2| and 22 ensure that the layers of stalksl8 shall be fed as a unit to the decorticating rotors.

' 22, as indicated by the reference numeral 25,

and is provided on its front face with a resilient facing 28. Also, saidblock is provided with a plurality of sets of orifices, such sets beingnumbered 21 and 28 respectively. These sets each consist of a number oforifices extending across the face of the block and the orifices areconnected to a manifold 28 which in turn is connected by pipe 38 to asuitable source, preferably of compressed air. flees 21 communicateswith aligned orifices in the resilient anvil face 28. The set oforifices 28 is provided with tubular members 3| which terminate justbelow the lower edge of the resilient anvil face 28.

. Mounted in suitable bearings in the framework lli, such bearings forthe simplicity of illustration and description not being shown, areshafts 32, 33, and 34. These shafts are arranged parallel to each otherand on these shafts, respectively, are mounted the scutching rotors 35,38, and 31.

The shafts 32, 33, and 34 are interconnected by suitable gearing orequivalent means so as to rotate at the same peripheral-speed and in thedirection of the arrows shown, for example in Figure 1. Further, theshaft 32 is provided with'sultable .means for driving the rollers 2| and22 and crushing rollers |1, |8 all at the proper speed and in'the properdirection. The shaft 32 is driven through the transmission mechanism 38from the prime mover 38, which in turn has power delivered thereto fromany suitable source.

The scutching rotor 35 has the scutching bars thereof associated withthe resilient anvil face 28, and the anvil face 28 is always inengagement with the respective scutching bars of the scutching rotor 35throughout the eflective scutching movement thereof. The peripheralspeed of the scutching rotor 35 is measurably greater than the linearspeed of travel of the stalks l8-of fibrous ,material. Therefore, as thestalks l8 are fed over the top edge of the resilient anvil face, notonly will the shive portions be snapped" therefrom but there will be acombing action on the stalks by the scutching bars of the scutchingrotor as long as the scutching rotor is in engagementwith the resilientface 26 or the anvil.

is is led. The rate of feed of the stalks l8 being constant and theperipheral speed of the scutching rotors 35, 38'and 31 also beingconstant but greaterthan the speed of travel of the stalks l8, it isapparent that there will be a -eombing, and therefore a scutching,action on theistalks l8 by the scutching bars of the scutching rotors aslong as the fibrous material lies in The upper set of orithe sinuouspath, the stalks beingheld taut by the stated instrumentalities.

After leaving the set of rotors 35, 35 and 31, the now completelydeeorticated fibrous material |8a is fed downwardly, as shown in Fig. 1,be- 5 tween the endless conveyor belts 48 and 4|, beingdelivered fromwithout the framework I8 I through an opening 42 in an auxiliary casing43 attached to the framework II. The endless conveyors 48 and 4| aredriven at the same speed 1 and in the same direction, as indicated bythe arrows, from the prime mover 38 through the intermediary of thesprocket chain 44.

Arranged on either end of the framework l8 and within the framework arethe casings 45'and ll! 48 respectively.

In the casing 45 adjacent the top thereof is an opening 41 and also anopening 48, the opening 48 lying beneath the opening 41. The openings 41and 48 extend the full width of the framework l0. Associated-with theopenings 41 and 48 are endless conveyor belts 48 and 58 respectively.Suitable means is provided for moving the upper reach of each of theconveyor belts 48 and 58 in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure1 so as to deliver the material deposited thereon through the openings41 and 48 respectively into the casing '45. The conveyor 48 liesdirectly beneath the scutching rotor 38 while the conveyor 58 liesbeneath but spaced apart from the conveyor 48.

In the casing 48 are provided openings 5|, 52 and 53. The opening 52 isbelow the opening 5| and the opening 53 is below the opening 52.Associated with the openings 5|, 52 and 53 are 36 the endless conveyorbelts 54, 55 and respectively. The conveyor 54 is positioned above thescutching rotor 31 while the conveyor 55 is positioned below suchscutching rotor 31. The conveyor 85 is positioned below the conveyor 55and 4( is spaced apart therefrom as shown. Suitable means is providedfor operating the conveyors 54, 55 and 85 and for moving the upper reachthereof in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 1 so as todeliver the material deposited 4g thereon through the openings 5|, 52and 53 respectively and into the casing 48.

As the shives, designated by the numeral 85, are removed from thefibrous material l8, the rapid rotary movement of the scutching rotors5t 35 and 31 cause some of the shives tobe blown upwardly as shown inFig. 1 to be deposited on the conveyor 54. Also, some of the shives willa cured thereto and rotatable therewith a hub por- 64 tion 58 to whichis attached the radially extending blades 53. -The shafts 58 and 51 arerotated from the transmission means 38 through the sprocket chain 88.From an inspection of Fig. 1, it will be apparent that as the blades 587| rotate, the shives that pas beyond the conveyors 48 and 55 will bedeposited on the blades 58 and, as the shafts 58 and- 51 rotate, such.shives will be deposited on the conveyors "and 85.'l'hematerialdeposite'tlinthemflfl and 46 may be removed therefrom inany suitable manner.

As will be noted from an inspection of Figure 1, the blades 59 on theshafts 56 and 51 respectively slightly intermesh with each other, and,therefore. engage with the fibrous material l9a. The peripheral speed ofthe blades 59 is greater than the linear speed of the fibrous materialI9, and, therefore, there will be a pronounced scraping or combingaction of the fibrous material l9 by the ends of the blades 59 so thatany shives that may be loosely attached to the fibrous material l9a willbe scraped off therefrom and deposited on the blades 59.

In place of the anvil shown in Figures 1 and 2, I may utilize the formof anvil shown in Figure 3, where the anvil block is designated by thereference numeral GI and is provided with an arcuate operating facedesignated 62, and also with a cooperating stalk-retaining roll Bla.Such anvil block is provided with a manifold 63 connected through a pipe64 to a suitable source of air under pressure. The face of the anvil isprovided with a plurality of horizontal rows of orifices 65 at variouslevels communicating with the manifold 53 and through which air underpressure is delivered from the face of the anvil. Such air effects anair combing of the fibre freeing it from shives.

In place of the scutching rotors shown in Figures 1 and 2, I may utilizethe scutching rotors shown in Figure 4, wherein is shown a scutchingrotor in perspective and designated by the reference numeral 66. Suchscutching rotors ,66 are provided with four scutching bars as shown inFigure 4 and also in Figure 3, but obviously may have as many bars asdesired, similar to the scutching rotors shown in Figures 1 and 2. Thehub portion of the type of scutching rotor indicated by 66 is preferablyhollow and is provided with'a plurality of rows of orifices 61communicating with the hollow interior of the rotors and located eachset between adjacent bars thereof. It is obvious, therefore, that asthescutching rotors rptate, air under pressure will be ejected through theorifices 6f! ing radial directions and will assist in blowing ofi fromthe fibrous material |9 any shives 95 that may have been loosened byaction of the scutching rotors.

In Figure 3, I have shown three such rotors 65 arranged in a positionrelative to each other, similar to the rotors 35, 36, and 31 shown inFigures 1 and 2.

As a modification of the type of rotor illustrated inFigure 4, and shownin operative relation with similar rotors in Figure 3, I may utilize ascutching rotor designated by the numeral 58 in Figures and 6. In thescutching rotor 68 there is provided the radially extending setsofjorifices 69 which are designed to deliver air practically at the leadingedge of the bars of the rotors.

In Figure 6, I have shown the scutching rotor 68 having associatedtherewith a tubular member 13 connected through elbow N to a pipe 15leading from a suitable source of pressure, as air, de-

' livered from a compressor II.

The compressor II shown in Figure 6 may be identical with and the sameas the compressor ll shown in Figure 1 and which compressor is utilizedas a means for delivering air or other suitable fluid under pressure tothe intake pipe for the anvils.

In Figure 5, I have shown but two scutching rotors 69 in operativerelation to each other, and

find under some conditions of service that two rotors arranged andconstructed as above described and as illustrated in Fig. 5 aresufiicient to effectively decorticate fibrous material.

The use of air or other suitable fluid under 5 pressure in connectionwith the anvil and in connection with the decorticating rotors has theeffect of cleaning and loosening the shives from the fibres and enablesa better decorticating action to be effected, and also preventsparticularly the air under pressure emanating from the rotors anypossible danger of winding of the flbrous material onto the rapidlyrotating rotors. It has been found that the air or other suitable fluidunder pressure has the effect of expanding or exploding the stalks ofthe fibrous material enabling the decorticating rotors to effect aquicker and cleaner decorticating action and places the fibrous materialin such a condition as to allow the shive material thereon to be morereadily and easily attacked by the decorticating rotors,

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific formsthereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for treating fibrous material comprising in combinationan anvil, a plurality of scutching rotors provided with scutching barsand comprising a group having the scutching bars interlocking with eachother to provide thereby a sinuous path through which fibrous materialis led during the scutching operation.

2. An apparatus for treating fibrous material comprising in combinationan anvil provided with a resilient working face thereon, a plurality oforifices extending through the resilient face, means for supplyinggaseous fluid under pressure through'said perforations, means forfeeding fibrous material to the anvil and across the face at apredetermined rate of speed, and scutching rotors cooperating with theresilient face of the anvil for scutching the fibrous material.

3. An apparatus for treating fibrous material comprising in combinationan anvil provided with a resilient working face thereon, a plurality oforifices extending through the resilient face, means for supplying fluidunder pressure through said perforations, means for feeding fibrousmaterial to the anvil and across'the face at a predetermined rateofspeed, and scutching rotors arranged in a group for cooperating toscutch the fibrous material and said scutching rotors provided with setsof perforations extending radially outward from the hub of the rotors,and means for supplying fluid under pressure to the rotors for passagethrough the perforations.

4. An apparatus for treating fibrous material comprising in combinationan anvil provided with a resilient working face thereon, a plurality oforifices extending through the resilient face, means for supplying airunder pressure through said perforations, means for feeding fibrous ma-55 terial to the anvil and across the face at a predetermined rate ofspeed, and scutching rotors arranged in groups to provide a sinuous paththerethrough, said rotors having scutching blades thereoninterengagingeach other, and said scutching rotors having sets ofperforations .extending through the hub portion thereof and terminatingat the leading edge of the scutching blades, and means for supplying airunder pressure for forcing said air through the perforations.

5. An apparatus for treating fibrous material comprising in combinationan anvil provided with a; resilient working face thereon, a plurality oforifices extending through the resilient face, means for supplying airunder pressure through said perforations, means for feeding fibrousmaterial to the anvil and across the face at a predetermined rate ofspeed, and scutching rotors arranged in a group to provide a sinuouspath therethrough, such scutching rotors provided with perforationsthrough which air under pressure is fed to cooperate with the airemitted through the perforations in the resilient face of the anvil andwith the air emitted by the respective rotors for expanding or explodingthe fibrous material being fed therethrough to facilitate the removal ofshives therefrom.

6. An apparatus for treating fibrous material comprising in combinationan anvil provided with a resilient working face thereon, a plurality oforifices extending through the resilient face, means for supplying airunder pressure throughsaid perforations, means for feeding fibrousmaterial to the anvil and across the face at a predetermined rate ofspeed, and scutching rotors arranged in a group to provide a sinuouspath therethrough, such scutching rotors provided with perforationsthrough which air under pres-. sure is fed to cooperate with the airemitted through the perforations in the resilient face of the anvil andwith the air emitted by the respective rotors for expanding or explodingthe fibrous material being fed therethrough to facilitate the removal ofshives therefrom while such fibrous material is held relatively taut bythe engaging blades of a group of scutching rotors.

7. An apparatus for treating fibrous material comprising in combinationan anvil, scutching rotors associated therewith and having a greatersurface speed than the speed of feed of fibrous material to the anvil,and means for emittin air through the hub and scutching blades of therotors for preventing winding up of the fibrous material'on the rotors.5

8. An apparatus for treating fibrous material comprising in combinationan anvil, means for feeding fibrous material thereat at a definite rateof speed, a group of scutching rotors associated with the anvil forremoving shives from the fibrous material, means for receiving theremoved shives including a pair oi rotatable members provided withradially extending blades interengaging with each other and rotating ata surface speed greater than the speed of travel of the fibrous materialwhereby shives from the fibrous material are combed from the fibrousmaterial.

9. The structure defined as under claim 8, combined with means forsupplying air under pressure in the zone between said anvil and said 20scutching rotors.

10. An apparatus for treating fibrous material comprising in combinationan anvil, means for feeding fibrous material thereat at a definite rateof speed, scutching rotor means" associated with anvil for removingshives from the fibrous material, means for receiving the removedshivesincluding a pair of rotatable members provided with radiallyextending blades interengaging with each other and rotating at a surfacespeed 30 greater than the speed of travel of the fibrous materialwhereby shives from the fibrous material are combed from the fibrousmaterial, and r means for supplying air under pressure through saidanvil and directing such air against such 35 fibrous material in thezone of such scutching rotor means.

ANTON BURKARDI'.

